PROTESTERS ABOUT THEIR MESSAGE HERE. >> THE PROTESTERS I SPOKE WITH BASICALLY SAY, THEY WANT THE STATE TO OPEN BACK UP AS SOON AS TOMORROW. THEY SAY IF YOU ARE OVER 65 OR BATTLING HEALTH ISSUES, THEN YOU SHOULD STAY HOME WHILE EVERYONE ELSE GETS TO GO BACK TO WORK. >> WE NEED TO GET BACK TO WORK. THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, THE UNITED STATES, THE WORLD. >> PROTESTER KIM SCHERER TELLS ME OKLAHOMA HAS BEEN CLOSED FAR TOO LONG, AND NON-ESSENTIAL WORKERS ARE HURTING FINANCIALLY. THEY CANNOT EVEN GO INTO THE GROUP -- PEOPLE CAN’T EVEN GO TO GROCERY STORES. PEOPLE ARE RUNNING OUT OF MONEY. >> AND HER RESPONSE TO COVID-19, YOU CANNOT LIVE IN FEAR. >> WE’VE ALWAYS HAD DISEASE AND DEATH AND WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE DISEASE AND DEATH, BUT WE WON’T ALWAYS HAVE THE ECONOMY. >> THOSE ARE ARE AFRAID, THEY NEED TO STOP WATCHING SO MUCH TELEVISION. >> FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE PORTER DAVIS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN TODAY’S PROTEST. >> IT’S TIME TO START PUTTING OKLAHOMANS BACK TO WORK. >> I AM COMMITTED TO PROTECTING THE HARD-WORKING OKLAHOMANS, WHO ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW TO PAY THEIR BILLS, AND DINNER READY TO GET BACK TO WORK. >> GOVERNOR STITT IS WILLING TO LET MORE BUSINESSES OPEN BACK UP IN PHASES. BUT KIM, LIKE MANY OF THE PROTESTERS TODAY, WANTS THE STATE TO REOPEN. >> AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I SAY TOMORROW. >> GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT SAYS WHEN THOSE BUSINESSES START TO REOPEN, THEY WILL NOT B

About a dozen people rallied at City Hall in Oklahoma City on Monday, asking the state to open back up after weeks of shelter-in-place and safer-in-place orders have been in effect across Oklahoma.The rally was the second in the area in less than a week, with protesters gathering last week to have their voices heard at the state Capitol.Protesters at Monday's rally told KOCO 5 that they want the state open as soon as Tuesday, saying people who are immune compromised or fearful of the pandemic should stay home while everyone else can get back to work."We need to get back to work — the state of Oklahoma, the United States, the world," Kim Scherer said.Scherer believes Oklahoma has been closed far too long, saying nonessential workers are hurting financially."People can't go to grocery stores. People are running out of money," she said.Scherer's response to the coronavirus crisis is that people can't live in fear."We've always had disease and death, and we will always have disease and death, but we won't always have the economy," Scherer said.Former state Rep. Porter Davis joined the protest at City Hall."Those that are afraid need to stop watching so much television," Davis said. "It's time to start putting Oklahomans back to work."Last week, Gov. Kevin Stitt said he's willing to let more businesses open back up in phases."I'm also committed to protecting the hard-working Oklahomans who are struggling right now to pay their bills, and they're ready to get back to work," he said.But Scherer, like many of the protesters Monday, wants the state back open."As soon as possible. I'd say tomorrow," she said.Stitt said May 1 is the state's tentative chosen date to start reopening Oklahoma. He also wants to make it clear things will not be going back to normal immediately.

OKLAHOMA CITY —

About a dozen people rallied at City Hall in Oklahoma City on Monday, asking the state to open back up after weeks of shelter-in-place and safer-in-place orders have been in effect across Oklahoma.

The rally was the second in the area in less than a week, with protesters gathering last week to have their voices heard at the state Capitol.

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Protesters at Monday's rally told KOCO 5 that they want the state open as soon as Tuesday, saying people who are immune compromised or fearful of the pandemic should stay home while everyone else can get back to work.

"We need to get back to work — the state of Oklahoma, the United States, the world," Kim Scherer said.